Host Vesicle Fusion Protein VAPB Contributes to the Nuclear Egress Stage of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) Replication.

The primary envelopment/de-envelopment of Herpes viruses during nuclear exit is poorly understood. In Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), proteins pUL31 and pUL34 are critical, while pUS3 and some others contribute; however, efficient membrane fusion may require additional host proteins. We postulated that vesicle fusion proteins present in the nuclear envelope might facilitate primary envelopment and/or de-envelopment fusion with the outer nuclear membrane. Indeed, a subpopulation of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB), a known vesicle trafficking protein, was present in the nuclear membrane co-locating with pUL34. VAPB knockdown significantly reduced both cell-associated and supernatant virus titers. Moreover, VAPB depletion reduced cytoplasmic accumulation of virus particles and increased levels of nuclear encapsidated viral DNA. These results suggest that VAPB is an important player in the exit of primary enveloped HSV-1 virions from the nucleus. Importantly, VAPB knockdown did not alter pUL34, calnexin or GM-130 localization during infection, arguing against an indirect effect of VAPB on cellular vesicles and trafficking. Immunogold-labelling electron microscopy confirmed VAPB presence in nuclear membranes and moreover associated with primary enveloped HSV-1 particles. These data suggest that VAPB could be a cellular component of a complex that facilitates UL31/UL34/US3-mediated HSV-1 nuclear egress.

[Knowledge and perception about tuberculosis among public transport workers in Lima, Peru]. / Conocimientos y percepciones sobre tuberculosis pulmonar en trabajadores del transporte público en Lima, Perú.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the level of knowledge and perception of tuberculosis among public transport workers attending Road Safety Education courses in Lima, Peru. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, analytic study was conducted between July and August 2014 in public transport workers attending the courses of Road Safety education. In Lima, such courses are mandatory for workers in the public transport area. An anonymous and voluntary survey was applied to obtain the following variables: sociodemographic characteristics, history of tuberculosis, tuberculosis knowledge and attitudes towards the disease. The factors associated to the risk perception of Tuberculosis infection were analysed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: From 309 attendees, 216 surveys were analysed (69.9%). Of these, 88.4% were males, 3.2% had a history of tuberculosis. The most widely known symptom was cough with phlegm (44.4%), the most popular source of information was television (39.8%), and only 9.7% had any training about tuberculosis. A 41.2% of respondents believed that working in the public transport sector was an occupation with a high risk of tuberculosis infection. No significant association between risk perception of tuberculosis and sociodemographic characteristics was found. CONCLUSION: A considerable lack of knowledge about tuberculosis symptoms and a low perception of risk for tuberculosis exists among public transport workers in Lima. Education strategies directed to this population need to be implemented.

OBJETIVO: Describir los conocimientos y percepciones sobre tuberculosis en asistentes a los cursos de educación vial para operarios del transporte público en Lima, Perú. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado entre junio y agosto del año 2014, en asistentes al Curso de Educación Vial en Lima (Perú), que son obligatorios para laborar como trabajador del transporte público en dicha ciudad. Se aplicó una encuesta anónima y voluntaria para recolectar datos incluyendo características sociodemográficas, antecedente de tuberculosis, conocimientos y actitudes sobre tuberculosis. Se evaluaron los factores asociados a la percepción de riesgo de contagio mediante la regresión de Poisson. RESULTADOS: De un total de 309 asistentes, se analizaron 216 encuestas (69,9%). El 88,4% fue de sexo masculino, 3,2% había tenido antecedente de tuberculosis, el síntoma más reconocido fue la tos con flema (44,4%), la fuente de información más popular fue la televisión (39,8%), en tanto que sólo 9,7% recibió alguna capacitación sobre tuberculosis. El 41,2% percibió que ser conductor o cobrador de bus es de alto riesgo para contraer tuberculosis, lo cual no estuvo significativamente asociado a otras variables del estudio. CONCLUSIÓN: En la población encuestada se observó escaso conocimiento sobre la sintomatología de la tuberculosis, escasa capacitación recibida sobre el tema y baja percepción de riesgo para contraer esta enfermedad. Urge implementar estrategias de educación dirigidas a dicha población.